DÅgen Zenji (é“元禅師; also DÅgen Kigen é“元希玄, or Eihei DÅgen 永平é“å…ƒ) (19 January 1200–22 September 1253) was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in KyÅto, and the founder of the SÅtÅ school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure of his time, as well as being an important philosopher. Zenji is a title meaning "Zen master", while the name DÅgen means roughly "Source of the Way".